How to Choose the Right Multi-Purpose Dining Chair

With working from home and remote learning the new reality, the role of the modern dining room has evolved to become a multi-tasking area.

It is now the best time to shop for an all-in-one dining chair that can rise to the occasion, whether for dine-in meals or a WFH set-up. So, sit while we take you through the essentials of choosing a versatile dining chair.

Getting the Numbers Right

Proportion and scale are key to a comfortable home. In this case, we’re talking height, legroom, and the number of chairs you can fit around your table.

The standard height of dining tables is around 30 inches, so the height of your chairs should be around 17 inches to 19 inches high.

Having a wide enough seat is also important for anyone to dine at ease.

Most dining chairs are between 16 inches and 20 inches wide. To keep a comfortable distance, the magic figure is to leave at least 24 inches of room between each chair from the middle point of each seat.

The next thing to keep in mind? Your table length. It will dictate the width of your chair and how many chairs it can accommodate comfortably.

As a rule of thumb, we recommend four guests for our round tables such as the Theo round dining table. For rectangular tables, four to six people can occupy our tables of 60 inches, while six to eight diners can sit around tables measuring 78 inches to 94 inches. For a larger party of 10, tables that are 110 inches and up will do the job nicely.

Pairing Your Chairs with Style

Getting your numbers right is half the battle won. When it comes to styling your dining setting to suit your interior, there are a few sure-win formulas to nailing the look down.

For a timelessly stylish dining set-up, going with classic and enduring styles like Mid-century modern and Scandinavian designs make for a safe bet. Their organic design lines, tapered legs, and muted tones make for versatile design traits that suit most interiors.

Comfort is Key

For a dining chair suited for hours of lounging, these main features will elevate your comfort level:

• An ergonomic form: A gently rounded back that follows the natural curve of your back and a slightly scooped seat or imprint on the seat will bring better support.
• Plush padding: Cushioning the backrest and seat provides extra comfort, especially during those long Zoom sessions.
• Armrests: A feature that’s suitable if you want to rest your arms while tackling hours of deskwork. If space is of concern, settle for one or two armrest chairs and place them at either end of a long table.
• Sturdy frame: Go for a robust and well-made frame that will offer durability for daily use.

Upholstery or Not?

Upholstered dining chairs offer lasting comfort but maintenance might be trickier when there are kids or pets in the picture.

While un-upholstered chairs are a safe bet, parents and paw-rents can still enjoy upholstered seats by keeping a fabric care kit handy. It will take care of most stains and spills in a jiffy.

Another bonus of an upholstered chair is how it carries formality and class and can be easily repurposed as a home office chair, or a dressing table chair.

Play Up Your Seating Options

Other than regular dining chairs, benches, and bar stools can bring extra mileage to your dining space and to different parts of your home.

For instance, while not in use at the dining table, your multi-functional bench can serve as a divider, patio seating, a bed bench, or a foyer seat.

And with eat-in kitchens, a big thing everywhere now, dotting your island counter with bar stools will turn it into a casual but cozy breakfast nook.

With this timely and practical guide to selecting dining chairs, you can now explore the ways in using your dining room more efficiently.